The Exploratorium at Pier 15 in SF is kind of a big deal. It’s this incredible hands-on science museum where you get to play with all the things while you passively learn all the things as well. I’ve been a big fan of this place ever since I moved here, and last Thursday was my third time (fourth if you include the time I brought my nanny kids to play in the gift shop because the museum was closed).
Last week I found myself at The Exploratorium After Dark. Every Thursday night they open the museum from 6pm-10pm for adults only. Not only are tickets cheaper and you don’t have to fight germy babies for the exhibits, but they have special presenters, films and a bar with signature cocktails.
I went a couple months ago, and I just tried to play as much as physically possible, so this time around I made sure to take advantage of the special exhibits. There’s a tactile dome where you can’t see a thing and are encouraged to feel your way through the exhibit. I played catch wearing perspective-skewing goggles, watched a map of my body temperature and snapped macro shots of water dropping into a coffee cup. It really brings out the child inside playing with the furriest magnets, making lots of noise, creating electricity and defying logic.
Thursday they showed Emmy award winning Virtual Reality film “Collisions” created by Lynette Wallworth. Unfortunately I didn’t get a chance to see it, but I did get to hear Wallworth talk about the inspiration behind it.
“Collisions is a virtual reality journey to the land of indigenous elder Nyarri Morgan and the Martu tribe in the remote Western Australian desert. Nyarri’s first contact with Western culture came in the 1950’s via a dramatic collision between his traditional world view and the cutting edge of Western science and technology. 65 years later Wallworth carried cutting edge video technology into the desert so Mr. Morgan could share his story. Reflecting on the event, in this most magical of immersive experiences, Nyarri offers to viewers his experience of the impact of destructive technology and the Martu perspective on caring for the planet for future generations.”
They offered free admission to see the film within the next few weeks. I can’t wait to go back and get the full experience. After watching this filmmaker’s moving presentation, I grabbed dinner at SeaGlass cafe where I had approximately 12 minutes to scarf down some Korean BBQ and play on the outdoor exhibits (I still have bruises from where I tried to cross a bridge that was haphazardly put together, by me).
If you’re local, I highly recommend you check out the Exploratorium After Dark. You can use the code FUTUREFOOD to get 5% off individual admission through Nov 30 and an additional $5 off a membership package. I’m thinking about getting a membership myself because it’s literally impossible to see ALL the things. Who wants to come with me next time?!
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